Jersey Girl ~

Crystal Bowersox Idols Hometown visit

What a cool girl she rocks!!! She sounded awesome today at her mini concert downtown. I'm really hoping she wins next week!

Napoleon Salad

Today I photographed what I refer to as a Napoleon Salad, which consisted of a chihuahua named Napoleon in a wooden salad dish. He was so cute and friendly, a friend was watching him for the weekend and I couldn't resist taking his photo.

Hi! My name is Amy, and I'm a Toledo, Ohio bride-to-be.
When my boyfriend proposed to me, I couldn't have been more excited. He took me on a tour of places that are significant to our relationship, ending at a beautiful lake in Oak Openings. He dropped to one knee on a lovely little bridge and I giddily said yes.
Immediately, I started calling family members and close friends, sent out a mass text that included a picture of the stunning ring, and eventually made it home to update our facebook relationship status to the coveted title of "engaged," posting pictures of the proposal site and the two of us beaming after the big moment.
After the initial rush of this new horizon, an entirely new excitement and prospect began to nurture butterflies in my belly: Planning a WEDDING!
These are the things that we first think about as brides of today. Spending the rest of your life with the partner that you love, trust, laugh with, and grow with more than anyone else in this word is merely one of the many exciting prospects of engagement (and still the most important)!
There's no harm in allowing yourself to get swept away in the overwhelmingly exciting tide of being a bride and planning your perfect day, as long as you always keep the most important thing in mind...that you have found your mate and are preparing to share the rest of your days together.
With so many friends that have already gotten married (I am nine times a bridesmaid), I have so many ideas and so much advice for not only local brides, but for anyone planning a wedding anywhere, it is absurd. I am blessed to have learned from others' mistakes as well as their excellent choices and unique ideas, and it has made my journey as a current wedding-planner much, much more breezy. Still, I've hit some bumps along the way and am absolutely intent upon sharing with all of you the highs, lows, and in-betweens of this experience!
I hope you'll stop back to visit me soon, as I chronicle for you my experience as a bride-to-be!

A year of twins begins ...

I have the fortune to shoot a set of twins every month for a year. What a dream project to have, although it can be challenging to come up with a new, modern twist to a portrait instead of the "ole mundane kids against a canvas back drop". Here is what I have so far...

Obama by phone

Being a photographer, I really wanted to be able to photograph this historical event, which wasn't going to be easy since I was not there. So I did the next best thing... using available technology I took a photo of the TV with my cell phone and then adjusted the photo in Lightroom to look like an old newspaper photo. What a great day to have witnessed for the United States!

Patricia Ball Wins 2 Accolade of Excellence Awards in the WPPI International 2008 2nd Half Print Competition

Patricia Ball Wins 2 Accolade of Excellence Awards in the 2008 WPPI International 8 x 10 2nd Half Print Competition

Patricia Ball of Maumee, OH, has received special honors in the WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL  2008 WPPI 8 x 10 2nd Half Print Competition. Designed to recognize outstanding photographers from around the world, the judging was held in Santa Monica, CA .

“Just Me” and “I will not Smile” received Accolade of Excellence Awards in the children and high school senior categories. Ball competed against an international field of photographers to win such honors.

The WPPI 8 x 10 International 2nd Half Print Competition awards are presented each year at the largest trade show, educational platform and convention in the United States for professional photographers. The 2008 competition included 1932 prints in 18 different categories submitted by photographers from all over the world.